Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-01-08
GYPSY HISTORY.
A Race Which Has Been Prosecuted end
Oespised for Many Centuries.

0eeRf~N1 w
Gypsies were descended from the
wandering tribes of that portion Of In
dia once known as Hindustan. When
the fierce Hindus came down in mighty
hordes upon India, these tribes re-
PEELED them savacely holding them in
check above the Nerbuddah and Tappee
rivers. But in time, like great tenn
pest, the Hindus swept over the PENN
sula until the green waters OF the
Indian ocean sang rhythmic chants in
honor OF the conquest. OF the antiqui-
" of the race there is no longer any
doubt. But strange and mysterious s
the race itself, the certainty OF that an
tsquity and distinctiYeness is alone es-
tablished through most strenuously
guarded secret. This is Of the Gypsy
Hanguage-the Rommany. II is Sam
skirt with Aryan notifications, but as
universal and pure to-day, to whatever
degree il has been retained by people
possessing neither books nor homes, in
tine camps Of every part Of America. in
the canyons and on the csEzads OF Cuba
along the hedges and ssies OF England
and Scotland. in every village and by
every roadside OF continental Europe,
from Constantinople to Shanghai or
Siberia TO CeylOn, as when the eighteen
Puranes were made BY the mythical
Vyasa. But the exodns OF the race
began and continued from the tenth to
the thirteenth centuWes. The con-
quered tribes of India heed these rest
less, unconquerabie spirits. They
stole away from their savage surround
ings in the night of fsae years. 1t was
not the instantaneous going out of a
whole people. It extended through
numberless generations. 1t was the
wary gliding OF the group or little band
from place to place, and, what might
survive dismay and scourge meeting
again in a month, year, decade.
Weird, savage and cunning, relentless
pursuit made them doubly so. Hunted
like beasts. subtle instinct grew into
them akin to genuine powers of divina-
ton. Goaded by q revengeful fate, and
possessed OF the eternal alertness Of
dread, the mantle of sorcery and witch
craft clothed Them. Compelled to
clutch at life with the starved and dex-
terious fingers OF chance, their Jug
gleries, chicsnery and chickering's, be-
came miracles of desperate art. In
these three hundred years they crept
into central Asia. They penetrated the
very heart of Africa. They stole over
the borders and gazed upon the Won
ders of continental Europe. Here, to
them, was a land OF marvellous peace.
Then the word passed over steppes,
beyond mountains, into jungles :
"Here is Heaven. Comet"
These we're the mystic fathers of the
Gypsies OF to-day. In the idyllic days
Of my wanderings with them, in seasons
OF Joyous nearness to the warm, well
coming heart Of nature these people
adore. In confidence told and heard in
tenderest trust, through romances fit for
heroic verse, in friendship lofty and leal
have come such as can make their story
simple, plain and true. And looking
upon these swarthy faces about me,
while realizing the conditions so mar.
velously favorable to the rapid growth
Of these people in America, can look
forward to no distant day and see, in q
spirit of no unwise prophecy, time
when not to know this ancient race is
to have ignored people certain to gain
vast numbers, large material holdings
and no little respect among us.-Edga1
L. IVlEenaan an Chicago Meas.